I know a girl who is 17 her little brother was diagnosed with CF but he is only her half brother and as such has another mom. She ahs never been tested for CF. This girl has had a very slight, soft cough most of her life. It's not very frequent but it comes and goes... no hacking just a soft cough. Although at one point in her life she ended up coughing up blood. She rarely gets sick and is in great physical condition. Also somtime she has trouble passing her stools and will take laxitives. She has a ton of energy and does not get tired easily or have much trouble breathing, though. Is there any chance she does not have CF and if she does is this just a very mild case?
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Possibility for CF
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
Emily65Roses
New member
I say it's worth the test to be sure. Because if she's positive, she can get the proper medical treatment and stay healthy for even longer. It is possible to be that mild. There are many CFers that have "mild" cases.
Well thanks a lot for the info. I pray that she is fine. Her fingers are fine and she is very healthy, toned and in shape. It's just i'm worried because of her little brother and that she exhibits the symptoms... if this were to be a very mild case is it really anything serious or life threataning? As i said she has no problem with physical exertion ect though she is only 5'2 and stays thin though I suppose that is most likely from the working out and the fact both her parents are in great shape and not very tall. I just pray she is ok which i think she will be.
Emily65Roses
New member
CF, by nature, is always serious and/or life threatening. But if the child is mild enough to be one of the lucky few, some have lived long lives. There was a woman recently who was 70-something with CF when she died. I would like to stress this is *NOT* the norm. It is uncommon, but it still happens.
The problem with classifying any CF case as mild... is that it's a <b><i>progressive</i></b> disease. It goes from mild to worse, by definition. There are, of course. different variations and many CFers are what you'd call "severe" while others are what you'd call "mild." But you can't really ever tell for sure who's going to be what. The only real way to tell who's mild is to look at their life after it's over. Look at the lifespan, the progression, how "normal" a life they lived, etc. You can't predict who's going to go which way while they're still living. If the child is a true mild case, she'd have a good chance of living a pretty long life. But since it's still CF, if she gets one nasty bug, that could put her in the "typical" CF position. See what I mean? It's hard to tell. But if she's positive and really as healthy as you say, she's got a better chance than lots of us.
The problem with classifying any CF case as mild... is that it's a <b><i>progressive</i></b> disease. It goes from mild to worse, by definition. There are, of course. different variations and many CFers are what you'd call "severe" while others are what you'd call "mild." But you can't really ever tell for sure who's going to be what. The only real way to tell who's mild is to look at their life after it's over. Look at the lifespan, the progression, how "normal" a life they lived, etc. You can't predict who's going to go which way while they're still living. If the child is a true mild case, she'd have a good chance of living a pretty long life. But since it's still CF, if she gets one nasty bug, that could put her in the "typical" CF position. See what I mean? It's hard to tell. But if she's positive and really as healthy as you say, she's got a better chance than lots of us.
Emily65Roses
New member
No problem, glad I could help. Of course there's a chance she doesn't have it at all. Even if the parent she doesn't share with her half-brother carries CF, there's only a 1 in 4 chance the child will have CF. And it's not for sure her mother (I forget if they share a mother or father?) even carries CF, is it? If she doesn't, you're set.
As for what else could be causing it... no idea. Could be asthma for the lungs, or allergies. And something like irritable bowel syndrome, or lactose intolerance, or certain foods for her digestion. I'm hardly the person to ask. But there are plenty of other things it could be, if not CF. If the CF test comes out negative, start asking doctors what else it could be, and have her tested for other things.
As for what else could be causing it... no idea. Could be asthma for the lungs, or allergies. And something like irritable bowel syndrome, or lactose intolerance, or certain foods for her digestion. I'm hardly the person to ask. But there are plenty of other things it could be, if not CF. If the CF test comes out negative, start asking doctors what else it could be, and have her tested for other things.
Hi there, I am sorry this is my first time that I'm doing this type of email in a forum, My father who is 77 yrs old and currently lives in puerto rico was taken to the hospital on 1-5-06 and due to he was looking ashy color and said he was not feeling good somewhat incoherent in his speaking. My brother who by the grace of god happen to be there for vacation with his family had just gotten there, saw this and took him to er, wherem they were trying to find out what was wrong. His oxygen level was low and was not going to the brain and it made him incoherent, also a colaspsed lung. They say he has carbone dioxide in his lungs because he can not get it out of the lungs on his own, they are giving him some type of breathing treatment but had to intubate him at 2:00am last night because the level will not drop. Today my brother called me to look up about cystic fibrosis because I believe that is what they have diagnosed him. But my brother is not able to get to much info down there. Can someone tell me info on this illness, what happens, what can we do, will he pass away from this, can it go away, i am sorry, but i am desperate.
Emily65Roses
New member
Well first of all, be sure they diagnosed him with cystic fibrosis before you jump ahead. A 77 year old being diagnosed, while not impossible, would be very rare. CF is genetic, and most people are diagnosed in early childhood. Those that aren't are diagnosed in early/mid adulthood. Being diagnosed as late as 77 would be very bizarre. Hell, if he has it, it's not likely he'd even live as far as 77. The average age a CFer lives these days is only 35.
But let's assume he does, so I can answer your other questions. CF makes the mucus in your body, everywhere, thicker and stickier. It makes it harder to cough up, and invites infection in with enthusiasm. As far as what you can do, there's a lot. There are all sorts of meds out there, oral meds, inhaled meds, nebulized meds, IV meds, etc. Last ditch efforts for CFers usually is a double-lung transplant. If he actually has CF, he'll probably die from it, yes. And I know this doesn't help how you feel, but the fact that he's lived to 77 is a damn miracle. We lose babies, children, and young adults all the time. It does not go away, it's genetic, if you have it, you're stuck with it permanently. There's no cure.
If you have more basic questions, there's a lot of info right on this site:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://cysticfibrosis.com/
">http://cysticfibrosis.com/
</a>As well as on:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/home/
">http://www.cff.org/home/
</a>Try those out.
But let's assume he does, so I can answer your other questions. CF makes the mucus in your body, everywhere, thicker and stickier. It makes it harder to cough up, and invites infection in with enthusiasm. As far as what you can do, there's a lot. There are all sorts of meds out there, oral meds, inhaled meds, nebulized meds, IV meds, etc. Last ditch efforts for CFers usually is a double-lung transplant. If he actually has CF, he'll probably die from it, yes. And I know this doesn't help how you feel, but the fact that he's lived to 77 is a damn miracle. We lose babies, children, and young adults all the time. It does not go away, it's genetic, if you have it, you're stuck with it permanently. There's no cure.
If you have more basic questions, there's a lot of info right on this site:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://cysticfibrosis.com/
">http://cysticfibrosis.com/
</a>As well as on:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/home/
">http://www.cff.org/home/
</a>Try those out.
In recent months I have encountered a few stories of older people thinking they had Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when indeed it is Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) which gives similiary symptoms in the lungs with breathing etc. There is a lot more to CF & given his age it is unlikely, but not impossible. A sweat test could have been given if results were given the same day & if not a blood test confirming what mutations of the CF genes he has IF it is CF. First thing I would find out is what test was done to come to this diagnoses. There is a lot of info to give on CF & wouldnt want to bombard you if not needed!
In recent months I have encountered a few stories of older people thinking they had Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when indeed it is Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) which gives similiar symptoms in the lungs with breathing etc. There is a lot more to CF & given his age it is unlikely, but not impossible. A sweat test could have been given if results were given the same day & if not a blood test confirming what mutations of the CF genes he has IF it is CF. First thing I would find out is what test was done to come to this diagnoses. There is a lot of info to give on CF & wouldnt want to bombard you if not needed!
You have to understand no matter what we say about foul smelling stools or fingernails or complexion or even discolored gums the cough the way she walks with her chest out some . she needs tested period. I know plenty of people who thought their kid had it or didn't have it and we were wrong or right. The test will fix it. So the question is , is she scared she thinks she has it or her parents what is the chance she will get the test done? bengalsfan
The problem is she doesn't want to know, I mean normally her complextion is good though sometimes I suppose its a little blotchy though not very much so. She's a gorgous girl and model. Is there any idea on how long it will be before gene therapy can start to cure or treat this problem well?